TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1445, 22 December 1885, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. London, Dec. 17. Colonel Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, held another conference with the Agents-General to-day on New Guinea affairs. No definite decision was armed at, and the meeting adjourned till Monday next. It is reported that a French protectorate has been established over the Island of Angayiza, or Great Comoro, lying in the Mozambique Channel between Africa and Madagascar. Income tax deposits will commence in April.

Mr Bragge has been appointed Professor of Mathematics at the Adelaide University, and will leava for there about the middle of January. Mr Belcher, of King's College, Cambridge, has been selected for the position of Reotor of the Otago High School. Colonel Stanley and several of the Agents-General are .arranging to proclaim a sovereignty over New Guinea, which will be done if colonies are liberal in subscribing funds for the purpose. It is considered probable that Mr John Douglas will be appointed High Commissioner.

Mr K. C. Baker's postal scheme has been submitted to the Treasury for consideration. The case of Hellford and Newton v. Young, of Christchurcb, an appeal to the Privf Council regarding the sale of property at Middleton, nes>r Christchurch, has been dismissed. Dec. 18.

Sir John McDonald, the Premier of Canada, who is at present on a visit to England, delivered an address at the Guildhall' last evening. During his speech he referred to the beginning of Federation in Australia, which he considered had commenced under auspicious circumstances. He expressed a hope that all the colonies there who were at present holding aloof would join, and so make a complete federation of the Australian colonies.

The work of delimitating the Russo. Afghan frontier has been brought to a standstill, in consequence of the extremely divergent views the representatives of England and Russia hold regarding the inclusion of Meruchak in tho territory of the latter country. Dec. 19,

The New Zealand mails, which left Auckland on October 18th, were delivered here yesterday, via fean Francisco, two days before due date.

New Zealand frozen mutton is worth 4£d to 4£i.

The New Zealand Shipping Com pany's s.s. Tongariro sailed from Plymouth for Auckland and Wellington this afternoon. She will call at Teneriffe and the Cape of Good Hope en route.

A cargo of Drysd ale's sugar from Queensland averaged Ll 6 per ton, The beet of it brought LlB. . Mr J. B. Thurston, Colonial Secretary of Fiji, will attend the meeting of the Federal Council.

The Times states that the following of Mr Chamberlain is variously estimated at 60 to 150. The weather is now mild. Dec. 20.

fhe result of the elections are now estimated as follows :—Liberals,...Bßl.;. Conservatives, 249 ; Paroellites, 86 ; Independent members, 4. The nuaiber of new members is 352.

William Sheehan, who was arrested at Auckland charged with the murder of his mother, sister, and brother at Castletownroche, has been convicted of the crime, and sentenced to death. CONSTANTIHOFLB, Dec. 19.

Moukhtar Pasha, who was appointed Turkish Commissioner to Egypt, with Sir Henry Drummortd Wolff, has not yet left this city, the recent hostile encounters between the Soudanese Arabs and the British troops having rendered the Anglo-Turkish Convention a dead letter for the present. AUSTRALIAN CABLE. Melbourne, Dec. 18. The Victorian Shipping Companies have formed a combination in order to resist the demands made by the wharf laborers for a. large increase in their wages.

The Victorian Parliament was formally prorogued to-d'ay by His Excellency Sir Henry Locb,!viio, in bis speech on the occasion, stated the forthcoming Federal Council marked a distinct epoch in the history of the colonies. He expressed tho hope that it would lead to the establishment of an Australasian Dominion, otherwise its significance would he unimportant.

Dec. 19. The Hon. Jas. Service, Premier, and the Hon. Graham Berry, Colonial Secretary, will represent the colony of Victoria at the forthcoming Federal Council at Hobart. The Hon. G. B. Kerford will accompany them as legal adviser. Bydnjbt, Doc. Id. The sculling race between Neil Matterson and W. Beach, the champion, for L2OO a side and the championship of the world, took place to-day on the j Parramatta River. The weather was beautiful, and there waa a moderate, attendance. Beach led from the start, and was never caught. It was'evident from the outset that Matterson was overmatched,. His Excellency Lord I Carington followed the race, and congratulated Beach upon bis victory. The betting was Btol on Beach. The official time for the race was 2tuin*. lOsecs.

Arrived—Zealandia, from Auckland, this morning. Sailed, to-night—-Tekapo, for New Zealand. Dec. 19. It is believed that Sir John Robertson has succeeded in forming a Cabinet, and that the following are the names submitted to His Excellency the Governor: Sir Jno. Robertson, and Messrs Burns, Heydon, Garritt, H. Young, Guivan, and Drßenwick. The latter will sit in the Legislative Council, fcir Henry Parkes, Messrs O'Connor, Foster, and Sutton are stated to .have declined office. Dec. 20. Arrived, this s.s., from New Zealand. Brisbane, Dec. 18,

Two more deaths have occurred on board the s.t>. Dorunda, the victims being a woman and an infant, liy latest accounts no fresh cases have made their appearance. Adelaide, Dee. 19.

A most disastrous fire broke out yesterday at the warehouses of Messrs Croolte and Brooker, Port Adelaide, the whole of which were completely destroyed. Some adjoining warehouses hnd a narrow escape. Messrs Crooke and Brooke estimate the damage done at L 86.000 to L 40.000. The loss is covered by insurance to the amount of L 25,000, in which all the principal Companies are interested.